Construction delays farmers market opening

Frames for steel canopies have been erected at Festival Market Square, where the construction of a downtown public gathering space and site for the farmers market is expected to be completed next month.(Photo: Justin Andert/For the Enquirer)

The newly redesigned Festival Market Square is set to open May 16, delaying the opening of the farmers market by about two weeks.

The city of Battle Creek said Wednesday workers at the downtown site need to complete concrete work and landscaping, along with other site amenities, before its opening. The farmers market had been scheduled to open May 2.

The new outdoor space will host the Post Band Concert Series, outdoor movies and the Vibe@5 concerts this year.

“We are excited about all the possibility for events at this space,” Assistant City Manager for Operations Susan Bedsole said in a news release. “This really is a multi-functional space for our community.”

Chosen by the public from three options, the design for the site includes canopies for the farmers market vendors and an outdoor entertainment venue. Officials say the redesign is a continuation of the Downtown Transformation Initiative, a four-year project meant to redevelop the heart of Michigan Avenue.

Its location — at the southeast corner of McCamly and Jackson streets — also is meant to complement the location for food trucks. The City Commission last year approved ordinance changes to allow mobile vending downtown on Jackson.

Crews began construction on the $1.2 million project in November after cutting costs in materials. Last season, the farmers market was moved a block south of the site in a parking lot on the corner of McCamly and Hamblin Avenue.

Work resumed after winter. Crews began installing steel canopies and completed concrete work this month. The city had said in early April that weather could affect the construction schedule.

Battle Creek-based Hoffman Bros. Inc. was hired by the city in September to complete the project. Private grant funding was expected to pay for most of the project while the city was expected to cover the costs of the canopies through capital improvement bond funding. City engineers managed the project without architects to save on consulting fees.